Azerbaijan Pardons Frenchman Martin Ryan After EU Sanctions Shift

Martin Ryan, a French businessman, was jailed in Azerbaijan on espionage charges. His case attracted attention in France and was seen as politically sensitive, especially as relations between Azerbaijan, France, and the wider EU became more complicated.

In the days leading up to his release, the EU was negotiating its sanctions list targeting Russian individuals and entities over Moscow's actions in Ukraine. Among those on the list was billionaire Alisher Usmanov, a prominent Russian oligarch.

On September 22, 2026, the EU officially lifted sanctions on Alisher Usmanov. According to several sources, this decision was made after significant lobbying and negotiations in Brussels, with France playing a key role.

The very next day, September 23, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree pardoning Martin Ryan. Outlets reported that this pardon came as part of a wider deal, with France securing Ryan's release in exchange for supporting the removal of Usmanov from the EU sanctions list.

Some European partners were reportedly caught off guard by the French move, as the arrangement was kept secret until it became public through official Azerbaijani announcements and media coverage. Speculation quickly mounted that this was a calculated diplomatic swap, linking the fate of a French citizen in Azerbaijan to the interests of a Russian oligarch.

Meanwhile, attention also turned to other French nationals imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Anass Derraz, another French businessman, remains behind bars after being convicted of accepting a bribe from a Russian oligarch in 2025.

Martin Ryan is now free, having been released from an Azerbaijani prison. The details of the deal that led to his pardon are still emerging and have prompted discussion among EU diplomats and the French public.

The situation has highlighted the complex interplay between sanctions policy, diplomacy, and prisoner releases. Reactions from the EU and France are expected as more information about the negotiations comes to light.

Observers are watching for official statements from Paris, Baku, and Brussels about the nature of the deal. There are also questions about whether similar arrangements could be made for other imprisoned nationals, such as Anass Derraz, and how this episode will affect future EU sanctions decisions.